Treating device for type-writer ribbons.



WITNESSES Patented July 25, 1916.

JOHN G. RIEGEB; F TITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

TREATING DEVICE FOR TYPE-WRITER RIBBONS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1916.

Application filed September 4, 1915. Serial No. 49,014.

v ing is a specification.

My invention consists of means for treating typewriter ribbons and thelike, and has for its object to provide a device for applying a solventmaterial or fluid to a used ribbon, whereby to effect a redistributionof the pigment, ink or coloring matter of the ribbon from the unused tothe used portions thereof.

Ordinarily typewriter ribbons are subjected to vwear and reduction ofefficiency within certain prescribed longitudinalzones or divisions,under the action of the type of a typewriter machine, leaving certainportions of the ribbon, as at the middle or at each extreme edge, unusedand practically new.

My invention has in view to treat the ribbon in such a manner as toeffect a redistribution of the pigment over and throughand adapted tooperate in the manner more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, which illustrate one preferred embodiment of theinvention, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing it as in combinationwiththe ribbon of a typewriter machine, as used; Fig. 2 is a face viewof the device, partly broken away; Fig. 3 is a similar edge view; Fig.4: is a cross section indicated by the line IVIV of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is aperspective detail View of the pad detached.

In various standard typewriting machines the ribbon 2 is ordinarilydrawn across the printing position 3, in front of the paper of themachine, by winding reels, one at each I side, one of which is generallyindicated by the numeral 4:. These are well known constructlons and neednot be herein specifically described, except to state that the reel 4 isautomatically actuated to feed the ribbon irom one side to the other, ineither direc- 1on.

As stated above only certain portions of the -ribbon are utilized inactual service, leaving the pigment or coloring matter practicallyunimpaired as to the other portions.

By applying a suitable solvent, which may be of a fluid consistency andof proper quality and characteristics to combine with the pigment andcause it to flow evenly across the entire surface of the ribbon, the

pigment will be redistributed thereon and the worn surfaces renewed. Forthe purpose of so applying the solvent, I utilize a pad or block 5 offelt or other suitable fibrous material preferably rectangular in form,of suflicient length and width to provide ample wiping surface, and of adepth or thickness to contain the necessary quantity of solvent.

The pad 5 is so mounted or held within its retaining holder or framethat the frame may be fixedly held by the hand, or other: wise mounted,whereby to locate the face of the pad in the path of the ribbon 2.

The frame as shown is made of thin sheet metal of the necessary strengthand resiliency to fixedly hold the pad in position and to provide afront elastic tongue 6, between-which and the face of the pad 5 theribbon 2 is inserted as shown. The sheet metal strip which forms theholder, is bent to provide the rectangular receiving space correspondingto the shape and dimensions of the pad itself, being composed of abottom 7, a back 8, and a top 9. The elastic tongue 6 extends upwardlyacross the major front portion of the pad 5 preferably flaring outwardlytherefrom slightly whereby to provide the slight intervening space 10 atthe upper portion of tongue 6, to facilitate introduction of the ribbon.The sheet-metal strip is bent downwardly from top 9-for a short distanceand then reversed upon itself, providing the doubled downwardlyextending lip 11, having'a rounded edge adjacent to the upper edge oftongue 6 and leaving an intervening space 12 for entrance of the edge ofthe ribbon downwardly into space 10, and into close intimate engagementagainst the front face of pad 5, between it Cir and the resilient tongue6. The re-doubled thicknesses of the metal forming the lip 11 arebrought tightly together, and are preferably soldered as at 13, wherebyto insure their permanent relation. The strip extends upwardly from suchpoint and may be bowed outwardly at the front as shown at 1%, providinga suitable holding handle.

At the lower front and back middle portions and the upper back middleportion 'of the holder, the strip is crimped inwardly as indicated at15, whereby to provide the inner ridges 16, which bind inwardly acrossthe middle end portions of the pad, and thereby effectively retain it inposition against any tendency of the ribbon itself to dislodge it fromthe frame, while the ridges greatly strengthen the holder itself.

The holding eflect of such ridges however may be easily overcome byapplying suflicient pressure, 1n either removing or inserting the pad 5.

As thus constructed, the pad being thoroughly invested with the solventmaterial, and located in the path of the ribbon as shown in Fig. 1 andthere fixedly held, when the ribbon is drawn across the face of the padit is continuously held thereagainst with considerable pressure by theresilient tongue 6 and receives an ample application of the solvent,effecting the desired results. The ribbon may be thus passed across thepad one or more times to efiect its renewal, whereupon the device may beremoved and again used with another ribbon, either with the same or anewly-invested pad.

The advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated by thosefamiliar with the use of typewriter or other ribbons. It enables theutilizable qualities of the ribbon to be used practically to exhaustion;it effects a more uniform application of the ink of the ribbon, in usingthe typewriter machine, by frequent applications of the solvent applyingdevice, and thereby greatly lengthens the life and increases theefficiency of an ordinary commercial ribbon.

It will be understood that the device may be variously changed ormodified in construction as to proportions, dimensions or other detailsby the skilled mechanic, but

that all such changes are to be considered as within the scope of thefollowing claims.

What I claim is:

1. A treatingdevice for ink ribbons consisting of a solvent applyingpad, and a holder therefor formed of thin sheet metal bent to conform toand inclose the back, ends, and a portion of the front of the pad andembodying'a resilient tongue providing an entrance opening for a ribbonand adaptedto press it directly against the face of the v pad.

2. A treating device for ink ribbons consisting of a solvent applyingpad, and a holder there'for formed of thin sheet metal bent to conformto and inclose the back, ends, and a portion of thefront of the pad andembodying at one end an inwardly turned retaining lip and at the otherend an oppositely disposed inwardly turned resilient tongue terminatingadjacent the edge of said lip and providing an intervening entranceopening.

3. A treating device for ink ribbons consisting of a solvent applyingpad, and a holder therefor formed of thin sheet metal bent to conform toand inclose the back, ends, and a portion, of the front of the pad andembodying a resilient tongue forming an extension of the holder adaptedto bear directly against the face of the pad but having its terminaldisposed outwardly therefrom and providing for insertion of the ribbonbetween said tongue and the pad and for pressure of the ribbon by thetongue directly against the face of the pad.

4. In combination, a solvent applying pad and a holder therefor of thinsheet metal bent to conform to and inclose the back and end portions ofthe pad, and front wall portions, one of said portions being resilientand terminating adjacent the edge of the other with an interveningribbon insertion opening.

5. In a device of the class described, a solvent applying pad, and aholding frame therefor formed of a strip of thin sheet metal bent toprovide a retaining back, a top and a bottom wall at right angles to theback; an upper front wall formed by bend back, an upper front wallformed by bending the metal at right angles to the topwall, and a lowerfront Wall formed by bending the metal at right angles to the bottomwall and extending it upwardly to within a short distance of the edge ofthe upper front wall, and deflecting it outwardly to provide a resilientlip.

7. In a device of the class described, a solvent applying pad, and aholding frame therefor formed of a Ist'rip of thin sheet metal bent toprovide a retaining back, a top and a bottom wall at right angles to theback, an upper front wall formed by bending the metal at right angles tothe top wall and then redoubling it to provide a reinforced closure, anda lower front wall formed by bending the metal at right angles to thebottom wall and extendingit upmeaeee tit wardly to within a shortdistance of the edge of the upper front wall.

8. In a device of the class described, a solvent applying pad, and aholding frame therefor formed of a strip of thin sheet metal bent toprovide a retaining back, a top and a bottom wall at right angles to theback, an upper front wall formed by bending the metal at' right anglesto the top wall and then redoubling it to provide a reinforced closureand an extended handle, and a lower front Wall formed by bending themetal at right angles to the bottom wall and extending it upwardly towithin a short distance of the edge of the upper front wall.

9. In combination, a rectangular pad, and a correspondingly shapedholder therefor of thin sheet metal bent to conform to the back, top andbottom of the pad, having a downwardly turned double front wall and anextended handle, and an upwardly turned resilient front wall terminatingadjacent to the edge of said front wall.

10. In combination, a rectangular pad, and a correspondingly shapedholder therefor of thin sheet metal bent to conform to the back, top andbottom of the pad, having a downwardly turned double front wall and anextended handle and an upwardly turned resilient front wall terminatingadjacent to the edge of said front wall, said holder having inwardlycrimped retaining projections for retaining the pad.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in thepresence of two witnesses.

JOHN Gr. RIEGER. Witnesses:

M. E. CONNER, C. M. (lumen.

